"Unhygienic and harmful": This is the scary truth behind the viral caveman skincare routine (2025)

As a chronic TikTok scroller (the four-hour daily screentime consumption speaks for itself), I have seen beauty videos galore – from viral trends to weird and wonderful hacks, many of which would send a Victorian child into a coma. But the biggest discussion on SkinTok as of late might just take the biscuit... or should I say water... Enter: the caveman skincare method.

TikTok creator Tia Zakher has recently shared her skincare journey in numerous videos on the app, and it's one that she calls the 'Caveman Skincare Method'. Tia explains in a video with 9.7 million views, "after 8 years of picking & over-exfoliating, I'm healing my skin barrier by doing the one thing I never tried before... absolutely nothing." Aka, she's not only ditched using all skincare products (I'm talking cleanser, moisturiser, exfoliator), but water, too.

Cosmopolitan UK reached out to Tia for comment on the reasoning behind her decision to follow the caveman skincare method, to which she replied: "I decided to do it because I wanted to try a different approach and I do think it's working for me."

In doing so, Tia has seen a buildup of "dead skin" on her face, as shown in her videos online. However, many commentators are speculating that it could be dermatitis or even a fungal infection.

"Someone tag me when she finally finds out it's a fungal infection," one comment with over 150,000 likes reads, while another says: "As a profession comment reader, I can tell u this is called seborrheic dermatitis."

But what's the real deal? Is the caveman skincare method legit? Well, to find out, we spoke with consultant dermatologist and The Skin Diary co-founder, Dr Clare Kiely, who shared her expertise. Read our Q&A with Dr Clare below:

What is the caveman skincare method? And is it legit?

The caveman method is the concept of using zero skincare; no cleansers, no moisturisers and not even water. The idea behind the method is that many skincare products can strip the skin of its natural oils, disrupting its pH balance and altering its natural microbiome.

The caveman regimen is not recommended and can potentially be unhygienic or harmful. Admittedly, there are overcomplicated skincare routines, but whilst some may not need skincare because they already have no skincare concerns, not washing your face completely will cause more harm than good. Washing and drying skin with water and a towel is the very least a person can do for skin health. The grime that builds from exposure to environmental aggressors may trigger or exacerbate conditions like acne, seborrheic dermatitis, or fungal infections (like malassezia folliculitis), particularly in oily areas of the face. Over time, it could lead to inflammation, infections.

Essentially, the caveman skincare method has no positive benefits.

What happens to the skin when you follow the caveman skincare method?

If you totally avoid washing your skin, it is true that you can get changes like 'dermatitis neglecta'. As someone who has worked in the NHS for 13 years, I have come across people who have had these skin changes, i.e. skin looks rough, thickened, and waxy due to layers of dirt building up and becoming trapped.

As well as this, there are the layers of skin cells that are flaking away more slowly than usual due to a lack of washing and drying.

What is an alternative to the caveman skincare method?

A balanced skincare regimen could be as simple as a gentle cleanser and SPF, which is key for everyone, no matter what the skin type.

Can the caveman skincare method cause a fungal infection?

A fungal skin infection is when a fungus that is not normally present on the skin proliferates, and typically this is seen as a scaly rash, sometimes in ring-like structures. These fungal infections are usually transmitted through close contact.

The appearance of the skin in this video is not consistent with a fungal infection, also known as malassezia folliculitis. The morphology of skin changes isn't quite right, and the distribution is also not right.

While the caveman method could theoretically affect the skin's microbiome and trigger secondary skin issues, including fungal ones, this particular presentation doesn't fit with these conditions.

If you are struggling with a skin condition like the one represented above, we would urge individuals to seek a professional diagnosis.